Matt Maher’s Debut Named One of the “Best of the Best” of 2005

Welcome to Life Releases to Critical Acclaim

Nashville, TN - Unity Award winner Matt Maher’s CBA market debut, Welcome to Life, has been named one of the “Best of the Best” Christian CDs of 2005 by About.com, an online subsidiary of the New York Times and one of the top 15 web properties in the world as ranked by Neilson. Maher, who has already established himself as one of the most popular and critically acclaimed Catholic artists in the country, released Welcome to Life to the CBA market on the spiritandsong.com label on September 13, 2005. The new project, a Christian album for people of all denominations, features 12 soul-searching songs and showcases Maher’s broad musical range and spiritual depth.

Welcome to Life comes three years after the release of his debut project, The End and the Beginning, which has becomeone of the best-selling CDs in the contemporary Catholic market and continues to have broad appeal. On the new album, Maher leads listeners on a spiritual journey as he explores the wonders and challenges of following God’s call to a life of faith. He begins with the Beatle-esque title track and moves on to a rocking update of the familiar classic “All Glory to God.” Maher shows his softer side with the ballad “Jesus, My Everything,” a sweet song of devotion that asks Jesus to take us just as we are. “Void,” which deals with feeling emptiness in life and knowing that Jesus is the only thing that can fill it, rocks with a modern alternative sound featuring energetic electric guitar riffs. Later, Maher wraps the musical experience with “Lead Me Home,” a song of thanks and praise to the Master Redeemer in whom we can ultimately rest.

Despite his rise in popularity, Maher continues to lead the weekly music ministry at St. Timothy’s Parish in his hometown of Tempe, Ariz. This is a responsibility that he does not take lightly. In fact, he was unable to personally accept his 2003 Unity Award — for “Best New Artist of the Year” from the United Catholic Music and Video Association — at the official ceremony due to his home church commitments.

Matt Maher’s music and songwriting have been impacting lives for years. During World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, the late Pope John Paul II led 700,000 young pilgrims from around the world in singing Maher’s “Litany of the Saints” at the official Papal Evening Prayer. Maher’s songs “Just Like You” and “Love Has Come” were recorded by Kathy Troccoli for her album The Heart of Me, which received a 2002 Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year.

Most recently, Maher performed his song “Your Grace is Enough” at World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany in front of hundreds of thousands of young believers. The popular song has been recorded by Chris Tomlin on his latest CD, Arriving. Tomlin’s version of the song also appears on the Passion: How Great is Our God album.

Welcome to Life is available through spiritandsong.com. Additional information about Matt Maher can be found on the label’s revised website, which is slated to launch on October 3, 2005. Spiritandsong.com is home to Maher as well as other popular Christian artists including Sarah Hart, Ceili Rain, Tom Booth and Curtis Stephan.